Business Intelligence and Enterprise Performance Management

Hyperion's 2007 survey (2007 Business Finance Hyperion Mid-Enterprise Survey) of requirements for business intelligence (BI) and enterprise performance management (EPM) solutions revealed the differences in requirements, evaluation criteria, and purchase influencers between emerging businesses and large enterprises. With a heavy reliance on spreadsheets to support EPM processes, top investment areas for emerging businesses include budgeting and planning as well as management reporting solutions. Executive influence plays a significant role in selecting software, and ease-of-use and pricing are key evaluation criteria.

The notion that emerging businesses have the same BI and EPM requirements as large enterprises is partly true. However, the survey makes clear that these requirements evolve as companies grow from single locations to multiple locations, expand internationally, or change from private to public ownership.